The Commerce Ministry is likely to notify amendments in ''Import and Export Policy Orders'' in a couple of days, to include export of liquor, sources told Business Recorder. The Economic Co-ordination Committee of the Cabinet, in November 2011 had approved Trade Policy 2012, but the Ministry had failed to get Law Ministry''s vetting of the SROs to be issued regarding amendments.
According to sources, positive list of importable items from India is also being expanded, further, by adding 17 new items to the list to be imported from India though land route.
The list is as follows: (i) Empty aluminium alloy milk cans; (ii) accessories for leather bags and footwear; (iii) jigs and dies for vehicles; (iv) other polymers of ethylene in primary form; (v) Lufenuron (chemical name - dichloro-4- hexa fluoro - propoxy phenyl/urea); (vi) cotton linters; (vii) fungicides for leather industry; (viii) other chemicals (ucer G-50) for leather industry; (ix) textile spinning machines; (x) cone/bobbin winding machines; (xi) reeling machines; (xii) power looms; (xiii) sewing, darning or embroidery needles; (xiv) fly ash for cement industry only; (xv) thermoplastic rubber sole; (xvi) traction motors and their spares; and (xvii) printed books of all kinds. Import of polypropylene, polyethylene and pure terephatealic acid (PTA), frozen vegetables and newsprint is being allowed though land route.
Regulatory changes in the Import Policy Order and Export Policy Order are as follows:
1. Import of only raw materials is allowed from India under temporary importation scheme for manufacture of export items. On the other hand, temporary importation scheme notified vide FBR SRO 492(1)/2009 also allows import of "accessories" for export-oriented textile/leather sectors like button, zipper, hangers, etc (S.No 6 refers).
The word "raw materials" in Appendix-G, therefore, creates restriction. Therefore, the facility is being extended to include above-mentioned "accessories" to facilitate exporters for temporary import cum re-export of these items.
2. Export of all sorts of sugar is banned. There is demand for export of high value organic brown sugar. It is typically less processed and often comes in the form of raw sugar. Its export will not in any way affect the local market. The Ministry of Industries supported the proposal, but to the extent of 2 percent of annual production of sugar. Therefore, the Commerce Ministry has proposed to allow export of organic brown sugar to encourage its production.
3. Units registered under DTRE are unable to import input items (restricted items importable after fulfilling certain conditions) whereas other importers can do so after fulfilling the conditions. This facility is being extended to normal importers to DTRE users as well with the same conditions.
4. At present, import of auto scrap is banned. There are reports that under the garb of steel scrap, auto scrap is being imported. The present description ie "auto scrap" appearing in the list of second hand/used condition banned for import will be amended to read as "auto parts (including serviceable auto parts imported as steel scrap)" to check import of used auto parts under the garb of steel scrap.
5. The changes brought in the Import Policy Order from time to time have prospective effect. There are numerous judgements of the superior courts whereby it has been propounded that the amended IPO cannot be applied on such imports where goods were shipped prior to the amendment in IPO. The import policy however, does not mention the same. Resultantly, disputes arise. In order to avoid such disputes and to have transparency, the Commerce Ministry will bring changes/amendments to the IPO from time to time that will not be applicable on such imports where B/L and L/C has been issued/established prior to the date of amending notification.
6. Import of second-hand/used ambulances is allowed when donated by any organisation/individual to a charitable or non-profit organisation trust or hospital, provided they fulfil certifiable standards and have minimum 10 years useful life.
However, now a condition "disposal before 10 years from the date of import will be subject to payment of duty/taxes as payable at the time of import" may be added to the para to avoid misuse of the ambulances as commercial vehicles after import.
7. Battery manufacturers in the country import waste exhausted batteries of automobiles to retrieve lead, which forms 55 percent of a battery. This lead is re-used in the manufacturing of batteries after re-melting process. Its disposal needs treatment to safeguard the biotech environment.
The Commerce Ministry has decided to allow import of such scrap only in favour of industrial consumer only for their own use subject to the condition that importer shall furnish to customs authorities (i) a certificate from Environmental Authority (CADD) that he has adequate manufacturing facility capable of handling hazardous wastes in accordance with the provision of Basel Convention; and (ii) permission/authorisation specifying quantitative entitlement for the import of waste & scrap of electric accumulators issued CADD.
8. Current Trade Policy provides that import of automotive engine oils of quality level (API) SC/CC and automotive gear oils of (API) GL-4 and above shall be imported by commercial importers, lubricants blending companies, lube/oil marketing companies and refineries. Ogra, being regulatory authority, had proposed that import of such lubricants should only be allowed to importers having valid registration with the Authority under the rules. It has proposed that IPO may be amended accordingly and procedure prescribed. The Commerce Ministry has also decided to impose complete ban on re-export of imported pulses.
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